theathleticuk
MILWAUKEE — Jacob Misiorowski's first pitch of Saturday's game zipped in at 104.8 mph for a called strike, immediately signaling the intensity of the matchup. Facing Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr., the Brewers' rookie sensation set a new major-league postseason velocity record with that very pitch. But as October baseball often proves, nothing is predictable.
What unfolded was a duel of dominant bullpens, culminating in Brewers catcher William Contreras launching a tie-breaking solo homer in the bottom of the seventh off Adrian Morejon, the hardest-throwing left-handed pitcher in the game. In the top of the ninth, Padres first baseman Ty France hit a towering fly ball that struck a cable near the roof of American Family Field and dropped straight into Jackson Chourio's glove for a reviewed out. Had the stadium's architecture been different, the ball might have left the yard for a go-ahead homer, but the Brewers held on for a 3-2 win in Game 1 of a riveting National League Division Series.
The Padres, the hottest team in baseball since late July, now find themselves two losses away from elimination. Did they squander a golden opportunity? San Diego entered the game as underdogs, with Misiorowski posing a far greater challenge than any pitcher they faced in their wild-card series against the Cubs. Robbie Ray, often inconsistent since being acquired at the trade deadline, was matched up against a disciplined Brewers lineup. Yet in a surprising twist, the Padres fouled off 30 of Misiorowski's pitches and scratched out two early runs via singles. They survived Ray's 2 2/3 innings and were in prime position to steal a crucial Game 1 on the road until Morejon surrendered just his second home run since July 4.
Key Analysis
After throwing only four innings, when might Misiorowski pitch again? The young right-hander had logged just 13 1/3 innings in the previous 24 days, so rest wasn't a concern. However, he wasn't sharp, needing 88 pitches to get through four innings against the Padres. That short outing raises the possibility that Misiorowski could return on three days' rest if the Brewers face elimination in Game 4. But keep in mind that 88 pitches is essentially his average (89.7 per start, excluding a late-season tune-up), and he has never pitched on three days' rest. If asked, though, he'd almost certainly say yes. 'Give me the ball,' he said Friday when asked about a potential bullpen role this month. 'That's plain and simple. That's my answer.'
Do the Brewers dig the long ball after all? In an era dominated by power hitting, Milwaukee stands out for leading the majors in wins while hitting the fewest home runs in the National League. Yet look at what decided Game 1: a two-run blast by Jackson Chourio to tie it in the third, and a go-ahead shot by William Contreras in the seventh that proved to be the game-winner. The Brewers showed that while they don't rely on the homer, they do have it in their playbook: Chourio, Contreras, Jake Bauers, and Brice Turang all went deep between 18 and 26 times this season.
Originally reported by theathleticuk.